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Puella Magi Imperatrix Mundi, or: Wherein Half Of Japan Tries To Kill You

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It's been long enough since I watched this thread that I've basically forgotten the plot, and then I walk in and it's like Redshirt Army and Muramasa are the leaders of a Red Chinese Communist ring in Tokyo that's using a Yui (whatever that is, sounds like a mecha to me) to seduce girls into a life of, uh... "Ramming a 'big pink laser'."

Just what kinds of deranged perversion go on in here??? :confused:
 
Kaizuki said:
It's been long enough since I watched this thread that I've basically forgotten the plot, and then I walk in and it's like Redshirt Army and Muramasa are the leaders of a Red Chinese Communist ring in Tokyo that's using a Yui (whatever that is, sounds like a mecha to me) to seduce girls into a life of, uh... "Ramming a 'big pink laser'."

Just what kinds of deranged perversion go on in here??? :confused:
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According to our soft and moist overlord, a creepy harem quest with a thirteen year old protagonist.
Such rumors have been debunked.
 
I could change my avatar for another color team... White maybe ?
 
What color am I?[/PsychoPass]

Kaizuki said:
Just what kinds of deranged perversion go on in here??? :confused:
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A thirteen year old protagonist keeps meaning to build a harem of magical girls but she's never going to get around to it because she's too busy establishing herself as boss meguca of one of the largest territories in Japan, a territory whose previous boss protector meguca (and a large chunk of her team?) just came down with a sudden case of dead that left an enormous power vacuum. Hence half of Japan trying to kill her.
 
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Ch. 3: Light the Path Whenever It's Dark (36)
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    • Evening - Monday, January 17th, 2011​

    Okay, no, you say, breaking into a sprint toward the edge of the roof. This feels entirely too much like the prelude to yet another invasion and I want to stop that before ending up with another big fight. You leap to the roof of the next building south. You guys follow in case there's a secret bonus double ambush, I'm gonna get ahead of her. Minami, look around for her teammates as best you can.

    Roger, Minami says.

    You recall that Itabashi shares a border with Nerima, and reach out to Yumi to see if she knows anything about Chizuka's group.

    There's a short delay before Yumi responds. Was the whole radio crackle thing really necessary? she asks.

    Absolutely, Minami cuts in. It adds, uh, atmosphere.

    You clear your throat. Yumi, know anything about Nerima ward? you ask, giving her a short description of Chizuka.

    I believe they're likely based in western Nerima, Maiko adds.

    I've got nothing, sorry, Yumi replies. Either they're new, or they kept to themselves over there.

    Drat. Thanks anyway, you say.

    As you run, you charge some magic into your wand and try to reconfigure it into a multi-beam version of what you just used. This time, something actively resists and after a few attempts you conclude that for some reason the... uh, force wave? ... isn't compatible with a multi-beam configuration--though, you do manage to find a few ways to adjust the size, shape, and spread of the single beam, at least. Perhaps it's just as well; you're not sure you can alter the direction of that type of beam. Even the small beam you used earlier seemed to use more magic than your regular beams, and the larger beams have always had too much 'weight' for you to push them around.

    You catch up with Chizuka a minute or so later. She's moving pretty fast now, using a few pieces of metal to carry her like she did when dodging Minami's attack. She has a small cloud of metal trailing behind her, but far less than she did before--most of her original supply was abandoned as part of the decoy gambit she used to escape. You're not sure what prevents her from replenishing her supply, but you're not going to com-- no wait, hold that thought. After the stunts she pulled earlier, what you're going to not do is assume she can't still replenish her metal supply.

    Would you mind stopping? you ask Chizuka telepathically, as you jump between roofs. I'd really like to talk and this whole chase scene thing is less dramatic and more awkward than it seems on TV.

    Chizuka doesn't reply, though she maybe picked up a bit of speed? ...sigh.

    You leap forward and draw on your magic. This time you feel the air under your feet become... not solid, but inert in a way that provides physical resistance as you push forward. You briefly consider whether you could directly manifest the magical energy used for your regular beams the same way, then even more briefly consider whether you'd end up exploding your own extremities if you tried. ...you quickly decide that the answer to both questions is probably 'yes'.

    Once you get ahead of Chizuka, you decide it's your turn for a dramatic entrance. Pavement shatters under your feet as you land, a quick shockwave sending clouds of dust billowing out around you and pelting Chizuka with bits of gravel.

    She comes to an abrupt stop, and the metal around her begins to condense into some rather pointier-looking projectiles. ...huh, maybe she was holding back somewhat before? In any case, you need to make a point of your own. One that you're almost certain will get through to her.

    In your magic sense, faint tendrils of Chizuka's magic stretch between each piece of metal... most connecting one piece to another, but a few larger strands stretching in toward Chizuka, braiding together into a bright cord of magic just outside her Soul Gem. You mentally reach out to where the magic converges, feel the resistance as you grab onto it, draw on your magic for extra power, and squeeze--

    Yui's Corruption: 3,020 / 10,000
    (+600 corruption from magic spent)​

    --Chizuka stumbles, clear shock on her face as every piece of metal clatters to the ground. "Wh... what did you do?"

    "...get your attention?" you ask hopefully.

    Her mouth moves soundlessly for a moment as she looks around frantically...

    ...then slumps to the ground, her posture seeming absolutely defeated.

    You take a few steps toward her, but stop when you see the void in her Soul Gem begin to roil. The darkness fills maybe a third of her Gem at most, so you're not too worried, but... ugh. Seeing her like this begins to make your earlier frustration slowly drain away.

    "Chizuka," you say as gently as possible, and her head snaps up, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, but I really did just want to talk."

    She nods awkwardly.

    "I don't know your situation, though I'm sure you have your reasons for everything," you say, "but this is my city. I'm happy to share, but not with people who start fights with their neighbors."

    She just nods dully.

    "You said you needed this territory. Why? Are you being driven out of your own?" you ask.

    "We picked up some new members," she says quietly. "We've barely been finding enough Grief Seeds to keep ourselves going, and we think one of the neighboring groups is about to attack us."

    "So they sent you here alone to take more territory?" you ask.

    She shakes her head. "No! I--" she looks guilty. "I came because I use up magic faster than anyone else. They always tell me they don't blame me, but..." Chizuka trails off, then looks up with a defiant expression. "When they took me in I promised I'd do whatever I had to, that I wouldn't disappoint them. I..." Her expression crumples and she hangs her head again.

    Given what Maiko said earlier, you... have some doubts about her teammates, but telling Chizuka that would probably be counterproductive and you suppose you should give them a chance, at least. "Look, I'm... well, recruiting, I guess?" you say. "I expect people here to play by my rules and cooperate with my other allies and, y'know, avoid destroying perfectly good buildings for a temporary tactical advantage. If you and your group are willing to consider that, I'll consider letting you live here as part of my, uh, organization."

    Chizuka nods silently, apparently going back to being non-communicative.

    Commander, I'm picking up two girls of unknown affiliation just across the Tokyo border, Minami says. They are currently engaged in conversation and appear unhappy but not agitated or aggressive. She pauses. Furthermore, our original target appears to have finished her calligraphy practice and moved on. I'm... not sure where she went, sorry. She left another one of those pieces of paper on the street light, though.


    [x] Escort Chizuka back to the border, as planned.
    - [x] Let Chizuka know that she can use her magic again, first.
    - [x] Give her teammates the "either talk to me first or stay out" ultimatum directly.
    - [x] Talk to her teammates a bit, if possible.
    -- [x] Try to sound them out on the subject of working together and/or joining your team.
    -- [x] See if you can get a better idea of how they treat Chizuka.
    -- [x] (write-in?)
    - [x] Just sort of stand there ominously until they leave. ...as ominous as you can manage while being inherently tiny and adorable, that is.
    - [x] (write-in?)
    [x] Tell Chizuka there are girls waiting near the border, and let her return on her own.
    - [x] Give her one of your smaller Grief Seeds as a token of goodwill, since it sounds like her team is low and she might need it.
    - [x] Trail her out of sight to make sure she leaves.
    - [x] Resume looking for the calligraphy girl.
    [x] (write-in?)


    Short update. Blame Chizuka for not being very talkative, I guess? The later bits of the vote ended up getting dropped, since Minami spotted probably-Chizuka's-teammates waiting where you could go talk to them directly, if you want.

    BTW, I'm assuming that unless you explicitly choose otherwise, brainmail among your definite allies will be using Minami as the relay, while talking to anyone who might be hostile will use Kyubeyphone to avoid revealing the extent of Minami's magic. If you guys want to do things differently let me know. Keep in mind that the initial connection via Minami is very obvious so it's not something you can just do discreetly.
     
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    • Echo said:
    She shakes her head. "No! I--" she looks guilty. "I came because I use up magic faster than anyone else. They always tell me they don't blame me, but..." Chizuka trails off, then looks up with a defiant expression. "When they took me in I promised I'd do whatever I had to, that I wouldn't disappoint them. I..." Her expression crumples and she hangs her head again.
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    WELP, we're adopting her.

    We'll have to look at how efficient she is when fighting Witches; even if she's expensive to run, she can deliver a coup de grace effectively, which might come out ahead on efficiency.
     
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    So, if calligraphy girl stick to herself a piece of paper with kanji 'unnoticeable', will she become unnoticable?
    If she stick 'pure' on Soul Gem, will it become clean?

    If she stick 'nuke' on something, will it become nuke?
    It's just theoretical question, I'm not planning to nuke anything...:oops:
     
    Shaseyu said:
    So, if calligraphy girl stick to herself a piece of paper with kanji 'unnoticeable', will she become unnoticable?
    If she stick 'pure' on Soul Gem, will it become clean?
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    Alas, no. It only works on inanimate objects, for one thing, and neither of those fits how it works even without that limitation.

    Shaseyu said:
    If she stick 'nuke' on something, will it become nuke?
    It's just theoretical question, I'm not planning to nuke anything...:oops:
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    I... kinda doubt there's a kanji that means "nuke". :V

    That said, if she stuck 核 on a chemical explosive, it would create a nuclear explosion of equivalent yield (including a physically impossible scaled-down mushroom cloud) when detonated.
     
    We should probably recruit calligraguca(calligruca?), depending on how long those things stay active we could use her for some serious defenses.
     
    That went well. Preliminary vote ideas, mostly rewritten/more specific defaults:

    [x] Escort Chizuka back to the border, as planned.
    - [x] Let Chizuka know that she can use her magic again, first.
    - [x] Maiko and Minami keep to hidden-but-within-spying-range as backup.
    - [x] Talk to her teammates a bit, if possible.
    -- [x] Cheerful introductions. Explain that you have for them a delivery of one (1) Chizuka, slightly scuffed but with no serious damage, following a terrible misunderstanding involving exactly where people who don't work for you are allowed to ambush others with high speed giant floating metal spikes. No hard feelings.
    -- [x] Make sure they know that they should really not be crossing the Tokyo-Nagamioka border without sending you a brainmail or text or something about what exactly they're up to and getting your approval.
    -- [x] In fact, Chizuka had some concerning things to say about recent events in their territory and you'd be very interested in hearing more about that, if they're willing to share. Try to figure out their team social dynamics while getting the news.
    -- [x] You have an interest in having a secure Nagamioka with stable border territories, and in making friends who share those interests- which they probably do. If some or all of them care to move, you're also in the market for reliable subordinates who don't mind living in Nagamioka. You'd like to see if you can cut some deals.

    [x] Minami can keep scanning for calligraphy girl's new location if it's not a serious magic cost or distraction from supporting you in escort and negotiations. Otherwise, wait until Chizuka is gone and you can focus properly on finding her while working together.

    BunnyLord said:
    We should probably recruit calligraguca(calligruca?), depending on how long those things stay active we could use her for some serious defenses.
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    Current evidence is that she's probably a Nagamioka native, so we'd likely be recruiting her even if she was completely useless. We basically have a "contractee? More like inductee" policy with regards to the hometown.
     
    Oh yeah, gotta multi-reply some silliness. Almost forgot.

    Aoinfinity said:
    Maybe we could recruit from other colors too. Team Blue and Orange, maybe?
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    There aren't exactly a lot of magical girls with orange as their theme color, though... I don't think that'd really help.

    redzonejoe said:
    I resent my apparent lack of leadership status on red team, but appreciate that it allows me to make the following joke.
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    To be fair, you're just a zone. That can't really compete with an army or the abstract concept of doom. And the pasta just makes it worse, because Kyouko-type is super effective against Food-type. :V

    Jiven said:
    I could change my avatar for another color team... White maybe ?
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    Hmm. Team Monochrome could be workable, if we include everyone with some variation of "light" or "dark" in their user name...

    Genial Precis said:
    What color am I?[/PsychoPass]
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    ...you know, I just realized how ironic it is in context that "Akane" means "red". :V

    Aoinfinity said:
    To be fair, it's more precisely like half of Japan's magical girls. Not that that's necessarily any better.
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    Honestly, it's probably more like a third. Unless you start expanding Yui's empire outside the Kanto region, anyway.

    ctulhuslp said:
    Can she use kanji "velocity"? Or "sufficient"?
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    She can use any single kanji on any inanimate object large enough to stick the paper to. The result depends on both the kanji and the object. And yes, if you want to give her suggestions, I am going to require that it be actual kanji, not just "some kanji that means X". :V
     
    Echo said:
    She shakes her head. "No! I--" she looks guilty. "I came because I use up magic faster than anyone else. They always tell me they don't blame me, but..." Chizuka trails off, then looks up with a defiant expression. "When they took me in I promised I'd do whatever I had to, that I wouldn't disappoint them. I..." Her expression crumples and she hangs her head again.
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    So there is no invasion in the works, and that was Chizuka's idea to provide for the team that she thinks she is a burden on. No wonder she got hit by a grief spike when that failed.

    That bodes fairly well for the possibility of negotiations with her team. Well, unless they have specifically manipulated Chizuka into thinking the way she did.

    I wonder who would pick up new members when they are low already. Does not sound like your average Tokyo team, but there might be all sorts of reasons.

    And if everything else fails, we can find the calliguca easily via Maiko's Grimoire, at a negligible cost of a couple dozen grief points and a somewhat grumpy Maiko. Once we know her name, we can find where she lives, and the rest is history as no one can withstand Yui's friendship barrage at ground zero.

    [x] DarkLight140
     
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